Save Money with Premium Discounts, Pg. 6 Germania Advantage Program Update, Pg. 7

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1 Winter 2013 Save Money with Premium Discounts, Pg. 6 Germania Advantage Program Update, Pg. 7

2 A Message from the President The holiday season is upon us, and the New Year is quickly approaching. Wishes for peace, joy and happiness abound. Families and friends are gathering together with joy and laughter, sharing in the holiday festivities where stories are told of the past events and hopes are expressed for the years to come. And most importantly, we all pause to give thanks for the many blessings and gifts we have received from God. Paul Ehlert, President We, at Germania, are especially thankful to you, our Members, for allowing us to meet your insurance needs. Unfortunately, many of our Members experienced damage to their home or autos this past year. Tornados and hail storms frequented our state for the first half of 2013, and we are particularly mindful of the tragic fertilizer plant explosion which occurred in West, Texas this last April. We also have members who lost their homes and personal belongings to fire, while others experienced water damage within their home from bursting pipes or hoses. Germania responded quickly and fairly to our members during each of these events. We are proud to be here for you in your time of need and are honored that you have placed your confidence and trust in us. The featured story in this publication provides safety tips for the holidays and throughout the coming year. Please keep these tips in mind and be safe as you enjoy the season gathering with your families, neighbors and friends. Also included is an article encouraging you to take advantage of several opportunities which may be available to you to help manage your insurance premium. And when you are Christmas shopping, remember the Germania Credit Union Visa debit card is a safe and convenient way to make your purchases in stores and online. If you are not already a member of our credit union, joining is as easy as filling out an application. On behalf of all of us at Germania, I thank you for your business and wish you a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association 507 Hwy. 290 East Brenham, Texas GermaniaInsurance.com Winter 2013 Volume 39, Issue 4 Paul Ehlert Gary Weiss Blake Lovelace Derrell Krebs Laura Popp James Pharaon Julia Rosenfeld President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary/Treasurer Director of Corporate Communications Senior Creative Designer Contributing Writer Germania Today (USPS ) Published quarterly by Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association Postmaster: Send address changes to Germania Today at P.O. Box 645, Brenham, TX Periodical postage paid at Brenham, Texas and additional mailing offices. Subscription price is 50 cents per year included in yearly premium. 2 Germania Today

3 Life Lines Leaving Home Without a Mortgage Among the top reasons why heads of households buy life insurance is that they don t want to burden their survivors with a mortgage payment. Mortgage Cancellation Life Insurance provides a flexible way for beneficiaries to pay off the remaining balance on a home loan while giving them control over exactly what to do with the proceeds. Depending on the value of the policy, the beneficiaries of Mortgage Cancellation Life Insurance may be able to pay off all outstanding debt on the loan, pay a portion of the debt or have enough to make monthly mortgage payments until the property is sold. In addition, once the mortgage debt is reconciled, the beneficiary can use the remaining balance for any purpose they want. reduces as it is paid off. Decreasing Term policies are available for 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, and expire at the end of the predetermined term. It may be the least expensive option, but right for those who plan to repay their mortgage on schedule. The face amount of Level Term remains the same or level, for the predetermined period. This option may have a higher premium than Decreasing Term, but provides beneficiaries with a greater amount if the insured passes away after paying off a large portion of the original mortgage debt. In addition, beneficiaries are free to use the remaining funds as they choose. Level term policies are available in 5, 10, 20 and 30 year terms. GLIC offers two choices of Mortgage Cancellation Life Insurance: decreasing term and level term. The face amount of a Decreasing Term policy drops annually, mirroring the way a mortgage loan balance Your Germania Life agent can help you choose the GLIC policy that meets your needs now and tomorrow. Ask for a no-obligation quote or contact Germania Life directly at , or at glife@germaniainsurance.com. Winter

4 We count a lot during December, whether it s the gifts under the tree or the minutes before the new year. These 12 smart safety tips may help you prevent major trouble, and have you counting your blessings. In the Car 1. Designate a driver: If you chose to drive, don t drink. And if you chose to drink, don t drive. Don t get into a passenger seat if the driver has been drinking. Call a cab or stay put. 2. Don t text and drive: If the message is that important, pull over to text or call. If that new text alert is a siren s song for you, turn off the sound on your cell phone when you get behind the wheel or put your phone in the trunk so you don t give into temptation. 3. Avoid talking on the phone while driving: Even hands-free calls are a distraction, something you don t need during the holidays when other drivers are rushing or perhaps intoxicated. Only use your phone for an emergency and ideally when safely parked. 4. Do a bumper-to-bumper check: Whether you travel around town or out of state, be sure your car is up to the task. See that your tires are in good condition and correctly inflated, that your engine oil and other essential motor fluids are at their optimal levels and that your battery is fully charged. Don t forget to fully charge your cell phone battery before you leave home too, in case you need to call for help. 5. Sign up for Roadside Assistance: For just $25/year, this added coverage may be one of the most valuable purchases you ever make for yourself and your family. Ask your Germania agent for details on this 24/7/365 coverage that goes where you go. Around the House 6. Chimney Check: Don t make Santa slog through a layer of goo, and don t expose yourself to the risk of a house fire from the build-up. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually to keep it safe for those cozy evenings at home. 7. Perimeter Check: Walk around the outside of your home and look for areas of potential freeze damage. Wrap all exposed pipes before Old Man Winter comes knocking. 8. Roof Review: Be sure you re firmly covered when the wind howls by checking your roof for wind damage potential. Ask a professional 4 Germania Today

5 to inspect your roof material for wear and see that shingles, gutters and turbines are fastened securely. Fix everything you can before you see it blow away. 9. Wood Stack: If you use chopped wood for cozy winter fires, be sure you stack the pile wisely so it doesn t become a fire or insect hazard. Keep the stack at least three feet from any structure and place logs on bricks or grates to reduce the moisture that attracts insects. 10. Secure Entries: Check entry doors to be sure they re strong enough to resist break-ins. Burglars tend to target houses while the owners are away, especially during the holidays, and a strong door is your first line of defense. Install metal or solid wood doors at least 1¾ inches thick. Frames should be made of equally strong material and each door must fit its frame securely. Even the most efficient deadbolt lock won t keep out a determined burglar if it s installed in a weak door. 11. Lock it up: If you don t have a safe in your house for passports, jewels and valuables, rent a safe deposit box at a nearby bank or credit union. This is a smart measure during holiday travel and for year-round safekeeping of items you don t use every day. 12. Check your policies: Your year-end checklist should include a review of your life insurance beneficiaries as well as a check to be sure your home and auto policy coverage is adequate. Your Germania agent is happy to help with that review. Something Delicious Every Day Stuck in a dining rut at home? Looking for something simple and unique? Click on Recipes at GermaniaInsurance.com and take a look at the menu of the redesigned Germania Everyday Recipes pages. You ll find tried-and-true ideas from policyholders like you, dishes from agents in your neighborhood, plus family recipes from employees and their family members. Check back often; we re adding new recipes all the time! We are more than happy to share your delicious meal ideas with others, too. To submit your recipes, visit the Germania Recipes page today! Winter

6 Save Money with Premium Discounts Our goal is to make sure that you have the right coverage at the best price. That s why Germania offers a wide range of personal auto and home insurance discounts. Below are just some of the discounts that may be available to you. Companion Policy Discount: By insuring your home, liability and personal auto with Germania, you can realize a 15 percent discount off both your Home and Auto premiums. Discounts for your Home policy: Companion Life Discount Add a Germania Life Insurance product in addition to Home and Auto and save 10 percent on your Home premium. Central Burglar/Fire System Discount If you have a monitored burglar alarm and smoke/fire system you may be eligible for a five percent discount on your Home and contents coverages. Hail Resistant Roof and All Steel Roof Discounts A graduated discount is available for hail resistant roofs which have been certified U.L. Standard 2218 Class 1-4. If you have a steel roof that is 26 gauge or thicker and installed with roofing screws, a five percent discount may be applied to your home and contents. Discounts for your Personal Auto policy: Youthful Driver Training Credit This discount is available for each youthful driver that has completed an approved driver education course and allows for 10 percent off specific coverages. Driver Improvement Credit Similar to the Driver Training Credit, you may qualify for this discount if you have completed an approved driver improvement or defensive driving course. The discount is 10 percent and applies to specific coverages. Anti-Theft Discount Vehicles with certain anti-theft devices or a combination of several anti-theft devices may meet the requirements for one of the five categories offered for this discount. Contact Your Germania Agent Check your home and/or personal auto declarations pages to be sure the discounts which may apply to you are listed. Your Germania agent can help review your policies and eligibility. Also, always remember to notify your Germania agent of any substantial changes in your life such as the birth of a child, home remodeling or retirement which could trigger important changes to your Home, Auto or Life policies and may also save you money. U.S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership 6 Germania Today

7 Dollars and Sense The popular Germania Advantage program just received a major upgrade! New discounts, offers and partners have been added and the Germania Advantage website is now easier to use! Germania Advantage has never been better! Germania Advantage is a FREE program for all Germania Insurance policyholders. There s no cost at all and no enrollment just discounts on products and services from a wide variety of trusted vendors. This is just another way that Germania shows its appreciation to our policyholders for trusting us with their insurance needs. We hope you find a discount you enjoy. And thank you again for being a loyal Germania policyholder. To access Germania Advantage discounts and offers, visit GermaniaInsurance.com and click Germania Advantage Discounts on the right side of the page. Making Holiday Spending Convenient When you open a checking account at Germania Credit Union, you re opening a world of convenience. Simply order a VISA debit card in addition to paper checks and you re on your way to a simpler way of managing your day-to-day finances. First of all, there is no monthly service charge and no minimum balance requirement with a GCU checking account. You ll also have unlimited checkwriting privileges, overdraft protection from your savings account, and the ultimate convenience of home banking and voice response service to keep on top of your balances and transactions. Your GCU VISA debit card is a smart financial tool that you ll use time and again, anywhere VISA is accepted. The card is safer than carrying cash, especially during the holidays, and can be used at ATMs or cash registers for purchases. The 24/7 instant access of your VISA debit card means online and catalog shopping is simplified too. In no time, you ll find you use your GCU VISA debit card instead of writing checks and waiting for store manager approval. Keep track of spending from your checking account with a GCU VISA debit card. Just choose the debit option and use your PIN to take funds from your account, or the credit option if you prefer to spend without using your PIN. And of course, GCU debit cards are covered by the maximum consumer protection offered by VISA. Become a Germania Credit Union member today and open your financial world to all the benefits of membership. Germania policyholders are eligible for GCU membership, as are many of their relatives. For a membership application and more information on our rates and products, visit Winter

8 PERIODICAL PO Box 645 Brenham, TX Peppermint Pretzels Crunchy goodness with holidays flavors of chocolate and peppermint front and center. Make enough to give as gifts if your family doesn t eat them all! Ingredients: 1 16-ounce package sourdough pretzel nuggets 2 16-ounce packages vanilla bark coating squares, coarsely chopped 2 cups white chocolate morsels 1 4-ounce package white chocolate baking bars, broken into pieces 1 16-ounce package (about 2 cups) hard peppermint candies, finely crushed, divided ½ teaspoon peppermint extract Preparation: Combine first four ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours. Stir mixture then add 1¼ cups of crushed peppermint candies and peppermint extract. Stir to coat pretzels well. Drop heaping tablespoons of pretzel mixture onto wax paper. Before it sets, sprinkle tops evenly with remaining ¾ cup crushed peppermint candies. Allow to set until firm. Makes 4½ pounds, or about 80 pieces